Utah Manufacturing Goes into Orbit

Press Release

December 11, 2012

Orbit Irrigation Products, Inc., along with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) announced that it will move 60 jobs from Asia to its North Salt Lake headquarters manufacturing location. To support the growth of its company, Orbit will invest nearly $37 million in capital investment over a 15 year period.

These 60 new incented positions will pay a minimum of 125 percent of Davis County’s average yearly wage including benefits. Wages over the lifetime of the agreement will total more than $68 million. In addition, Orbit will pay approximately $22.2 million in new state taxes over 10 years.

“Orbit is a family company with deep roots in Northern Utah. We are optimistic about our future growth and equally as thrilled to be able to bring jobs back to our community.” Orbit CEO KC Ericksen said.

Founded in Davis County more than 40 years ago, Orbit distributes its 2,000 products to more than 40 countries in five continents. Most of Orbit’s design, manufacturing, production and warehousing occurs at its North Salt Lake headquarters as well.

“We are very pleased that Orbit has decided to expand in North Salt Lake. Orbit is already a great corporate citizen providing many jobs for skilled workers along the Wasatch Front. I know it has been a complex financial decision, and we are appreciative of Orbit and all the other individuals and agencies that have rallied around this proposal to make it a reality. Orbit’s positive impact on our community will only increase as they expand their operations in our city. It has been a pleasure working with Orbit and to do our part in making it financially feasible for them to make this important and significant decision to bring more jobs to Utah,” said Mayor Len Arave, North Salt Lake City.

“Utah’s manufacturing industry employees earn the highest total payroll of all sectors in Utah,” GOED executive director Spencer Eccles said. “In order to keep our economy growing, we need to help businesses in Utah create jobs like the ones Orbit is re-shoring to Utah.”

Utah’s manufacturing sector is the third largest employment sector in Utah, comprising about 9.6 percent of Utah’s workers, totaling more than 114,700 people. Workers in this sector also receive wages that are 22 percent higher than the average monthly wage in Utah.